Ever since Equinor announced the first positive COVID-19 test at an offshore rig in March, the oil and gas industry was forced to examine how to protect its workforce during a rapidly growing global pandemic. Health and safety concerns quickly led the energy industry to adapt to a work-from-home (WFH), remote, and virtual environment.
The risk of further outbreaks remains high, though, as pharmaceutical companies work toward effective vaccines. With the energy markets expected to recover as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, key questions remain regarding how to transition the workforce back to its past environment.
The Center for Disease Control released its guidance for returning to work, which promotes practicing everyday preventive actions such as hand washing, social distancing, using masks, and health monitoring.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also issued its COVID-19 control and prevention guidance for the oil and gas industry in July. OSHA’s guidelines included CDC guidance, along with the use of physical barriers between workers and using caution with fans that may spread the virus.
In the UK, Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) is supporting a roll-out of a special protective face covering designed for workers traveling to offshore installations in the UK continental shelf.
Much of energy workforce, however, remains cautious about returning to the office.
In a May survey released by the University of Houston Energy umbrella, 70% of industry workers surveyed said they would prefer to keep working from home if their office reopened.
As the “new normal” of WFH and remote operations stays in place, key innovations within the industry, including drones, digital transformation, and virtual reality, have emerged.
Remote Inspections Pave the Way
Earlier in the year, testing, inspection, and certification firm Bureau Veritas reported a 900% rise in demand for the remote inspection of offshore assets and equipment since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said the requests for its remote inspection, certification, examination, and verification services began to be a necessity to keep workers safe from the coronavirus.
Many other companies also are embracing the concept of remote inspections.
This month, Fugro conducted its first fully remote oil and gas platform inspection in UK waters, spurred by a lack of available inspectors caused by COVID-19.
These innovations demonstrate reduced risk in terms of social distancing, but the industry still must look after workers’ health, safety, security, and environmental exposure when dealing with on-site personnel.
Testing is also crucial to bringing back the workforce.
Innovations for On-Site Personnel
In the US, Hamilton Health Box and 1Health.io, a precision health platform that powers at-home testing and wellness programs, partnered to provide COVID-19 testing for oil and gas companies that want to test their employees at headquarters and remote rig locations in the country.
More recently and on a wider scale, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) partnered with medical and security services firm International SOS in late July to launch ICC AOKpass, a mobile app validating individuals’ COVID-19 compliance status. Codeveloped by Singapore-based AOKpass and Perlin, the app comes as many governments and industry look at how and when to bring their workforce back.
The app uses blockchain technology to ensure complete user control over peer-to-peer sharing of COVID-19 medical compliance.
Leveraging its position as a nonprofit representing 45 million businesses in over 100 countries, ICC is developing standards for the app to be recognized across jurisdictions. The app is intended to allow verification for other immunization and medical compliance records as well.
Singapore-based Energy Drilling successfully used the AOKpass for 10 crew members traveling aboard an oil rig vessel to conduct drilling services for Thailand-based PTT Exploration and Production. The doctor-verified results on the app facilitated smooth entry for the employees to the Songkhla Port Authority in Thailand.
With guidance and best practices in place, along with development in testing, the oil and gas industry continues to make strides in bringing its workers back to the field safely.